From owner-freebsd-isp Wed Jan 24 23:59:57 2001 Delivered-To: freebsd-isp@freebsd.org Received: from aspenworks.com (aspenworks.com [192.94.236.1]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 430FA37B400 for ; Wed, 24 Jan 2001 23:59:39 -0800 (PST) Received: from d7k (matrix.aspenworks.com [216.38.199.82]) by aspenworks.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id AAA03894; Thu, 25 Jan 2001 00:59:11 -0700 (MST) (envelope-from alex@aspenworks.com) Message-ID: <000901c086a4$b19f0080$1700a8c0@d7k> From: "alex huppenthal" To: "Tom Samplonius" , "Dennis" Cc: "Tom ONeil" , "Free" References: Subject: Re: 2U server choice - experience/suggestions? Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 00:59:05 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4133.2400 Sender: owner-freebsd-isp@FreeBSD.ORG Precedence: bulk X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Will the Dell Poweredge 2450 with on board RAID controller work? We're considering that system as a FreeBSD host. -Alex ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Samplonius" To: "Dennis" Cc: "Tom ONeil" ; "Free" Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2001 4:53 PM Subject: Re: 2U server choice - experience/suggestions? > > On Wed, 24 Jan 2001, Dennis wrote: > > > > If you don't mind a 3U format, try the IBM eServer x340. I don't think > > >you will find anything that can beat it: redundant power supplies, up to > > >two CPUs, 133mhz FSB, 64bit PCI, three hotswap SCSI bays and three more > > >can be added, and redundant and hotswap fans. The fans are particularly > > >nice. The x340 doesn't use CPU fans, but an air-flow tunnel over the > > >CPUs, which a full-size hostswap fan at each end (push, pull arragement). > > >If one of these fans fails, the other speeds up, with no software > > >intervention required. > > > > > > Of course, IBM ServeRAID cards aren't supported by FreeBSD, so I use a > > >Mylex AccelRAID 352 in it. IBM owns Myles now, so IBM has no problem with > > >this. The hotswap bays support SAF-TE, so rebuilding of failed drives is > > >automatic too. > > > > > > 3u is kind of a waste, as with a 4U you generally dont need a riser so you > > get maximum functionality for a little extra space (including 64bit > > functionality). > > > > in making a choice, its good policy to stay away from proprietary layouts > > (the intels servers for example, and compaq) because you are locked into > > specific MBs at least. There are plenty of generic solutions around that > > take regular MBs which offer you the maximum flexibility. > > > > Whats good to use today may not be true tomorrow, so you need to keep your > > options open in an environment like freebsd. > > > > DB > > Well, you can use regular cards in a 3U card without a riser. And 64bit > cards too. > > Propietary layouts offer more features. For instance, IBM include light > guide diagnostics on their motherboards. No else offers that. Besides, > the motherboard is part of the package. You can't buy a generic chassis, > and a generic motherboard, and get anything as tightly integrated as IBM > eServer x340. > > For instance, if a CPU fan dies on your generic motherboard, the best > you can hope for is for the CPU to clock down. And you will have to power > the server down to replace the CPU fan. But with a integrated > motherboard/chassis combo like the x340, no problem. There is no clock > down required, and all fans are hot-pluggable. > > http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/eserver/xseries/x340.html > > > Tom > > > > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org > with "unsubscribe freebsd-isp" in the body of the message > To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-isp" in the body of the message